Puyallup School District bus driver Ron Kitts was back on the road transporting students yesterday afternoon, the same day he saved all eight passengers from a burning bus on its early morning run.

At the first sign of smoke, Kitts stopped the bus, called in a “Code Red”, and helped his students off the bus. Students being delivered to Shaw Road and Spinning elementary schools to their special needs classrooms required assistance evacuating the bus. Kitts patiently and effectively guided students away from the burning bus to safety.

“My thanks go out to those people that stopped to help. And my kids were great. They were scared, but they did everything they were supposed to do. They were very, very good,” said Kitts.

Kitts chose to return to his route that same afternoon. “I figured if the kids could see me and see everything was okay it might make their afternoon a little easier,” he said.

At their regularly scheduled school board meeting on May 2, directors publicly praised Kitts even though he wasn’t present. Puyallup School Board President Dane Looker said, “You put your kids on the bus every morning—thankfully we have great drivers like Ron to take care of them.”

The Puyallup School District, in partnership with our diverse communities, educates and inspires students to reach their full potential.

“Puyallup School District provides equal opportunities in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
Students and staff are protected against sexual harassment by anyone in any school program or activity, including on the school campus, on the school bus, or off-campus, such as a school-sponsored field trip.
Questions or complaints of alleged discrimination or harassment may be directed to:
ADA/Human Resources Compliance Coordinator: Amie Brandmire ~ (253) 841-8666, brandmah@puyallup.k12.wa.us;
Chief Equity and Achievement Officer: Gerald Denman ~ (253) 840-8966, denmange@puyallup.k12.wa.us;
Title IX Coordinator, Jim Meyerhoff – (253) 841-8785, meyerhja@puyallup.k12.wa.us; or
Section 504 Coordinator, Gerald Denman ~ (253) 840-8966, denmange@puyallup.k12.wa.us.
All individuals may be reached at this address:
Puyallup School District
302 2nd Street SE
Puyallup, WA 98372”